Exploring sci-fi, fantasy, and young adult novels.

Broadside

Ahoy there me mateys! Welcome to the eighteenth broadside – the Lucy Maud Montgomery edition. In 2018, one of me favourite books of all time, anne of green gables, will turn 110 years old! Me crew members jackie b @ deathbytsundoku and jane @ greenishbookshelf have been doing an anne-read-along and I have been happily following their progress. I adore LMM’s writing, have read 17 of her books, and think this be a fine time to highlight the author . . .

Please note: All book descriptions are from Goodreads and the book title links lead to Goodreads.

The collection that I grew up reading (and rereading) included 8 books that tell the stories of Anne Shirley growing up on Prince Edward Island. The tales begin with anne of green gables. The Cuthberts, a brother and sister, hope to adopt a boy orphan to help with the farm. However when Matthew goes to pick up the orphan, he finds a red-headed little girl instead. Their lives are never the same. Both they and this pirate Captain ended up in love with Anne with an E. She was feisty, intelligent, imaginative, clever, and just all around awesome. Ye get to read Anne’s adventures from being a newcomer in a small town, to making new friends and enemies, through growing up, to falling in love (sigh!), to working, to having children. Then we even get to follow some of her children. I have to admit I was a bit obsessed. I adored the movie with Megan Follows who will always be me Anne:

Then there was the Avonlea show in me later years that I watched and adored. And when me ma took suggestions for where to go in Canada, I begged to go to PEI. Which we did. Me ma is awesome. The trip was a dream come true. From seeing the Haunted Wood and getting to walk Lover’s Lane to looking at the red mud, I was absolutely ridiculously excited. I even got me postcards stamped at the Cavendish post office. I still call friends “bosom buddies” and “kindred spirits.” Me first mate also recently read this book and thought it was wonderful (so he didn’t have to walk the plank!). Book one is a classic that I think everyone should read and the rest of the books make me heart happy too. Okay I know there is not a lot of details here about these books and just a lot of ramblin’ but I adore them all. Arrr!

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

“It was November–the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. Anne roamed through the pineland alleys in the park and, as she said, let that great sweeping wind blow the fogs out of her soul.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Goodreads has this to say about the first novel:

When Marilla Cuthbert’s brother, Matthew, returns home to Green Gables with a chatty redheaded orphan girl, Marilla exclaims, “But we asked for a boy. We have no use for a girl.” It’s not long, though, before the Cuthberts can’t imagine how they could ever do without young Anne of Green Gables–but not for the original reasons they sought an orphan. Somewhere between the time Anne “confesses” to losing Marilla’s amethyst pin (which she never took) in hopes of being allowed to go to a picnic, and when Anne accidentally dyes her hated carrot-red hair green, Marilla says to Matthew, “One thing’s for certain, no house that Anne’s in will ever be dull.” And no book that she’s in will be, either.

This series is about another orphan girl, named Emily, who grows up in Canada. Don’t ye just love the cover for book one? A cat and a book. Yup. Sign me up. Now I have to admit that since Anne had me heart and soul, I never was as obsessed with Emily. But like Green Gables, this series has wonderful friendships, fun antics, and the lovely writing of LMM. Really I should read these again at some point!

Goodreads has this to say about the first novel:

Emily Starr never knew what it was to be lonely — until her beloved father died. Now Emily’s an orphan, and her mother’s snobbish relatives are taking her to live with them at New Moon Farm. She’s sure she won’t be happy. Emily deals with stiff, stern Aunt Elizabeth and her malicious classmates by holding her head high and using her quick wit. Things begin to change when she makes friends: with Teddy, who does marvelous drawings; with Perry, who’s sailed all over the world with his father yet has never been to school; and above all, with Ilse, a tomboy with a blazing temper. Amazingly, Emily finds New Moon beautiful and fascinating. With new friends and adventures, Emily might someday think of herself as Emily of New Moon.

This series is two books. I have to admit that me memories of this are: “I loved it.” That is it. No details at all. Sheesh! I think this duology is certainly going to get a reread in 2018. Arrrr!

Goodreads has this to say about the first novel:

Patricia Gardiner loved Silver Bush more than anything else in the world. She was born and raised in the beautiful old-fashioned house on Prince Edward Island, “where things always seemed the same” and good things never changed. But things do change at Silver Bush–from her first day at school to the arrival of her new own first romance. Through it all, Pat shares her experiences with her beloved friends and discovers the one thing that truly never changes: the beauty and peace she will always find at Silver Bush–the house that remembers her whole life.

So that be me introduction to L.M. Montgomery. If ye haven’t read any of her novels I would suggest ye hoist those sails and get moving!

A broadside is the side of a ship, the battery of cannon on one side of a warship; or their coordinated fire in naval warfare. From the 16th century until the early decades of the steamship, vessels had rows of guns set in each side of the hull. Firing all guns on one side of the ship became known as a “broadside“. source

A broadside is a large sheet of paper printed on one side only. Historically, broadsides were posters, announcing events or proclamations, or simply advertisements. source

What does this mean for me mateys? Well tomorrow I will publish the eighteenth edition of me broadside that will highlight a specific favorite author and their work. Who ye ask? It’s a surprise . . .

Ahoy there me mateys! Welcome to the seventeenth broadside – the Paolo Bacigalupi edition. I adore him even if I have problems pronouncing his name (for those interested click here to hear him both say and explain his name!). Though I have not read any of his short stories, I have read five novels and found them all to be great reading . . .

Please note: All book descriptions are from the author’s website and the book title links lead to Goodreads.

This novel was me introduction to his work and was complex and wonderful and hard fer me to explain in such a way to do it justice. It deals with issues like ecological collapse, clashing cultures, a dystopian future, industrial espionage, and engineered beings. It completely enthralled me and made it a necessity to read all of Mr. Bacigalupi’s other novels.

Anderson Lake is a company man, AgriGen’s Calorie Man in Thailand. Under cover as a factory manager, Anderson combs Bangkok’s street markets in search of foodstuffs thought to be extinct, hoping to reap the bounty of history’s lost calories. There, he encounters Emiko.

One of the New People, Emiko is not human; instead, she is an engineered being, creche-grown and programmed to satisfy the decadent whims of a Kyoto businessman, but now abandoned to the streets of Bangkok. Regarded as soulless beings by some, devils by others, New People are slaves, soldiers, and toys of the rich in a chilling near future in which calorie companies rule the world, the oil age has passed, and the side effects of bio-engineered plagues run rampant across the globe.

This series is a young adult dystopian set after environmental collapse on the Gulf Coast of the United States. The two books thus far are ship breaker and its followup the drowned cities. While these books have the same stunning, gritty futures and characteristics of the windup girl, the true highlights for me were the interactions between the wonderful characters. Nailer, Pima, Tool, Mouse – I loved them all. I adore the world building. People scrapping to make quota and survive. Complex politics. Violence. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Awards for book one in the series:

2011: Won the Michael L. Printz Award

2011: Won the Locus Award For Best Young Adult Book

The author’s website has this to say about the first novel:

In America’s Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota — and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it’s worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life….

In this powerful novel, award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi delivers a thrilling, fast-paced adventure set in a vivid and raw, uncertain future.

This was the least successful book for me thus far but still enjoyable. It’s a young adult thriller. I truly liked the main character, Alix and there were some extremely fun concepts and character interactions. However, compared to his other novels, I didn’t adore this one. It might have been the contemporary setting. I am not sure. Unlike his other novels, I don’t see meself rereading this. No regrets though!

The author’s website has this to say about the novel:

In this contemporary thriller, National Book Award Finalist and New York Times bestselling author Paolo Bacigalupi explores the timely issue of how public information is distorted for monetary gain, and how those who exploit it must be stopped.

Everything Alix knows about her life is a lie. At least that’s what a mysterious young man who’s stalking her keeps saying. But then she begins investigating the disturbing claims he makes against her father. Could her dad really be at the helm of a firm called The Doubt Factory that distorts the truth and covers up wrongdoing by hugely profitable corporations that have allowed innocent victims to die? Is it possible that her father is the bad guy, and that the undeniably alluring criminal who calls himself Moses–and his radical band of teen activists–is right? Alix has to make a choice, and time is running out, but can she truly risk everything and blow the whistle on the man who loves her and raised her?

And lastly . . .

the water knife

Okay so its a toss up between whether the windup girl or this novel is me favourite. While I love his young adult novels, I find his adult work to be stunning. I could totally see water rights in the United States becoming controlled by a mob-like organization in the future. While the windup girl seemed far ahead in the future, weirdly this book seemed like it could be right around the corner. It is violent and full of action and politics and murder. It is both fun and thought-provoking. Engaging and yet scary. Awesome.

The author’s website has this to say about the novel:

In the American Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, and California skirmish for dwindling shares of the Colorado River. Into the fray steps Angel Velasquez, detective, leg-breaker, assassin and spy. A Las Vegas water knife, Angel “cuts” water for his boss, Catherine Case, ensuring that her lush, luxurious arcology developments can bloom in the desert, so the rich can stay wet, while the poor get nothing but dust.

When rumors of a game-changing water source surface in drought-ravaged Phoenix, Angel is sent to investigate. There, he encounters Lucy Monroe, a hardened journalist with no love for Vegas and every reason to hate Angel, and Maria Villarosa, a young Texas refugee who survives by her wits and street smarts in a city that despises everything that she represents. With bodies piling up, bullets flying, and Phoenix teetering on collapse, it seems like California is making a power play to monopolize the life-giving flow of a river. For Angel, Lucy, and Maria time is running out and their only hope for survival rests in each other’s hands. But when water is more valuable than gold, alliances shift like sand, and the only thing for certain is that someone will have to bleed if anyone hopes to drink.

So that be me introduction to Paolo Bacigalupi. If ye haven’t read any of his novels I would suggest ye hoist those sails and get moving!

A broadside is the side of a ship, the battery of cannon on one side of a warship; or their coordinated fire in naval warfare. From the 16th century until the early decades of the steamship, vessels had rows of guns set in each side of the hull. Firing all guns on one side of the ship became known as a “broadside“. source

A broadside is a large sheet of paper printed on one side only. Historically, broadsides were posters, announcing events or proclamations, or simply advertisements. source

What does this mean for me mateys? Well tomorrow I will publish the seventeenth edition of me broadside that will highlight a specific favorite author and their work. Who ye ask? It’s a surprise . . .

Ahoy there me mateys! Welcome to the sixteenth broadside – the Ann Leckie edition. She has a new book coming out on September 26, 2017. Arrrr! I am so excited that I thought now would be a great time to celebrate her works. Plus September is just far enough away that if ye try hard, ye can catch up on all her work to date!

Please note: All book descriptions are from the author’s website and book title links lead to Goodreads.

This and a handful of short stories are all that she has written to date. Don’t be alarmed by the small body of work. This series is one of my all time favorites with the first book in particular being one that I gush about over and over. I am not the only one who knows it is brilliant. The first book in the series won the following awards:

How is that for a list? The series involves Breq who used to be the artificial intelligence of the starship, The Justice of Toren. In addition to being the ship, she also had control of thousands of human soldiers. The catch is that she has lost control of everything except one human body. She is out for revenge.

This story is absolutely stunning and complex. Breq is one of me all-time favorite characters. She is thousands of years old and has such a complex understanding of the connections of society. The side characters are awesome. The novel shows her point of views from the present and flashbacks to when she was controlling ancillaries. I have such fondness for One Esk. The writing is wonderful. The world building is delightful. I absolute adore this series and don’t know who to discuss it without giving away spoilers. Pick it up fer yerself. Don’t believe me?

Here are some of the reviews from me crew members who gave book one a five star rating:

Side note: This log post did not deal with books two and three because no spoilers!

Her website has this to say about book one:

On a remote, icy planet, the soldier known as Breq is drawing closer to completing her quest.

Breq is both more than she seems and less than she was. Years ago, she was Justice of Toren–a colossal starship with an artificial intelligence linking thousands of corpse soldiers in the service of the Radch, the empire that conquered the galaxy.

An act of treachery has ripped it all away, leaving her with only one fragile human body. And only one purpose–to revenge herself on Anaander Mianaai, many-bodied, near-immortal Lord of the Radch.

So that be me introduction to Ann Leckie’s novels. If ye haven’t read any of her novels I would suggest ye hoist those sails and get moving!

A broadside is the side of a ship, the battery of cannon on one side of a warship; or their coordinated fire in naval warfare. From the 16th century until the early decades of the steamship, vessels had rows of guns set in each side of the hull. Firing all guns on one side of the ship became known as a “broadside“. source

A broadside is a large sheet of paper printed on one side only. Historically, broadsides were posters, announcing events or proclamations, or simply advertisements. source

What does this mean for me mateys? Well tomorrow I will publish the sixteenth edition of me broadside that will highlight a specific favorite author and their work. Who ye ask? It’s a surprise . . .

Ahoy there me mateys! Welcome to the fifteenth broadside – the Piers Anthony edition. Okay this is an odd choice for a broadside I must admit given that I haven’t read anything by this author in over 19 years. So why ye ask do I include him? Well back in the day I read 68 of his novels. Insane yes. The reason he came to mind is that I was at a Friends of the Library sale and there was my favorite series by him in all its glory for a couple of dollars. I had a sudden urge to reread them and scooped them up. I plan on reading them at some point this year and see what the much older me thinks of them now. And of course I will share me second reflections with me crew!

Please note: All book descriptions are from Goodreads and book title links lead to Goodreads.

This is the series that I found at the library sale. The story concerns Hope Hubris working his way from being a refugee to the ruler of the galaxy. In me mind it’s a dystopian series. The blurb for book one made me laugh because I remember so little of the novels at this point. Space pirates! I should at least recall them. Also I forgot that I gave book one a five star rating based on vague memories from quite more than a decade ago. Shall it hold up? I accept me own challenge! Read the series again!

Goodreads has this to say about book one, refugee:

Vol. 1 Refugee

CALIGULA OF THE STARS

Though he was later accused of every crime and sexual perversion in the galaxy, Hope Hubris began as an innocent. Because he defended his older sister against the violent lusts of a wealthy scion, Hope and his peasant family were forced to flee Callisto, one of the moons of Jupiter. Pursued by the bloodthirsty scions across the airless desert, they barely escaped with their lives. The illegal space bubble was overcrowded with refugees, all hoping to reach Jupiter for asylum.

But the space travelers had not reckoned on the terrible threat of high space-the pirates, barbaric men who rape, rob, and murder, with no thought but to satisfy their bestial appetites. It will take all Hope’s ingenuity to survive, but the atrocities he witnesses will never die. There is only one way he can be rid of them . . .

To sum them loosely up (thanks Wikipedia): “The first seven books each focus on one of seven supernatural ‘offices’ (Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, Evil, and Good) in a fictional reality and history parallel to ours, with the exception that society has advanced both magic and modern technology. The series covers the adventures and struggles of a group of humans called ‘Incarnations’, who hold these supernatural positions for a certain time.” Of course me favorite two books in the series dealt with Death and Evil. Hmmmmm.

Goodreads has this to say about book one, on a pale horse:

When Zane shoots Death, he has to take the job, speeding over the world riding Mortis, his pale horse/limo, measuring souls for the exact balance of Good and Evil, sending each to Heaven or Hell instead of Purgatory. The new Thanatos is superbly competent, ends pain when he ends lives. But Satan is forging a trap for Luna, the woman Death loves.

The books I read follow characters born at the beginning of human history who then become reincarnated through different periods of time and into our future. There are apparently five books now. I only read two. What I liked about the premise was getting looks at periods in history through characters that I grew to know. Perhaps I will have to read the remaining three at some point. They can be read as standalones.

Goodreads has this to say about book one, isle of woman:

A magnificent saga of passion, heroism, and survival, Piers Anthony’s Isle of Woman is a tale like no other ever written. It is nothing less than the story of humanity itself, from its savage origins to its troubled future, told through the lives on one family reborn throughout history.

At once grand in scope and intimate in human detail, Isle of Woman tells the story of a man and a woman born at the dawn of human history, separated by fate, yet united by an unquenchable passion that even time could not conquer: Blaze, the fireworker who raised his kind out of savagery, and Ember, the beautiful green-eyed woman who forever haunted his dreams.

Isle of Woman is a powerful and prophetic masterwork from one of the bestselling storytellers of our time.

Okay I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the series that started it all. These books take place in an alternate world that looks surprisingly like Florida where there is magic and puns. I read way too many of these before the puns and age wore me down. While I remember several aspects like nightmares (a horse that delivers dreams) with fondness, I can’t really see meself readin’ any of these again.

Goodreads has this to say about book one, a spell for chameleon:

Xanth was the enchanted land where magic ruled – where every citizen had a special spell only he could cast. It was a land of centaurs and dragons and basilisks.

For Bink of North Village, however, Xanth was no fairy tale. He alone had no magic. And unless he got some – and got some fast! – he would be exiled. Forever!

But the Good Magician Humfrey was convinced that Bink did indeed have magic. In fact, both Beauregard the genie and the magic wall chart insisted that Bink had magic. Magic as powerful as any possessed by the King or by Good Magician Humfrey – or even by the Evil Magician Trent

Be that as it may, no one could fathom the nature of Bink’s very special magic. Bink was in despair. This was even worse than having no magic at all..and he would still be exiled!

So that be me introduction to Piers Anthony’s novels. Be on the lookout for second reflections of the bio of a space tyrant series. If ye haven’t read any of his novels I would suggest ye hoist those sails and get moving!